Experiências familiares de cuidado informal ao idoso frágil em narrativas orais.

Abstract

Caring involves an important responsibility of an individual towards another and encompasses more than a moment of attention and dedication. It portrays an attitude of occupation, responsibility, concern and emotional involvement with another being and, in this way, form, it is part of the instinct and nature that composes the human being. Objectives: To analyze the family experiences of informal care for the frail elderly in the context of oral narratives; present oral narratives about family care experiences for the elderly; and identify difficulties experienced by family members in caring for frail elderly people. Methods: Study descriptive exploratory and qualitative approach, subsidized by the theoretical contribution of Oral History. The population consisted of 17 family members of frail elderly people who are directly responsible for for their informal care. The instrument used was an interview script prepared by researchers. The analysis of the narratives was guided by the methodology of Oral History and Bardin's Content Analysis technique. Results: Based on the narratives, it was possible to three categories of analysis were constructed considering the axis of informal care for the frail elderly: I) The dichotomy between discontent and satisfaction of family members; II) The daily support informal to human needs; and III) The overload facing the multiplicity of tasks household. Final considerations: A relevant parallel of contentment was evidenced and dissatisfaction with caring for a dependent elderly person, care that is concentrated mainly in basic support. Caregiver overload also emerges as an indicator of direct impairment in the quality of care given to the frail elderly.